Youth Advocate Services

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Contact Information

2323 W. Fifth Ave.
STE 150
Columbus, OH 43204
United States

Online Contact Form
DayHours
Monday 8:30 AM-5 PM
Tuesday 8:30 AM-5 PM
Wednesday 8:30 AM-5 PM
Thursday 8:30 AM-5 PM
Friday 8:30 AM-5 PM
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

Social Media

Youth Advocate Services (YAS) is a nationally accredited, state-certified, 501(c)(3), non-profit child/family caring agency who has served thousands of children and families in Franklin County and surrounding area since 1978.Youth Advocate Services applies innovative thinking along with evidence-based practices to partner with children and families in order to identify and treat their needs. YAS incorporates a preventative philosophy into its model with the intention of strengthening children and families in their natural environment, while decreasing the need for more restrictive or out-of-home placements.

YAS is governed by a voluntary Board of Trustees, and maintains a multi-disciplinary professional staff that provides excellent services to our children and families. The agency is unique in that it provides year-round cultural, educational and recreational events and activities for the children and families it serves.

We offer a multitude of services in Franklin County and surrounding areas. Our children and families benefit from this continuity of care structure and show greater recovery outcomes when they are able to get integrated services all from the same agency - often times from the same staff member.


Services and information

  • Traditional Foster Care
  • Specialized / Therapeutic Care
  • Emergency Foster Care
  • Respite Foster Care
  • Adoption
  • Other

Requirements to become a foster parent

After deciding to foster, make sure your household members are on board with what will be a life-changing decision to foster. Then, educate yourself about Ohio's requirements for foster parents. Applicants who want to foster or adopt in Ohio must:

  • Be at least 21 years of age
  • Live in a safe and stable home
  • Meet home safety requirements
  • Clear a background check with fingerprinting
  • Provide at least three character references
  • Provide ample space for a foster child in their house or apartment
  • Attend foster parent orientation
  • Take part in required hours of foster parent training
  • Maintain financially stability
  • Prove good health
  • Complete the Home Study process

To apply or ensure you meet the prerequisites, there are two primary Ohio state resources. Contact the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) or a local Public Children's Service Agency (PCSAs).

If you are ready to learn more, contact a local child-placing agency to schedule foster parent information orientation. At orientation, aspiring foster parents learn more about foster parenting responsibilities, navigating the foster system, and the foster application process. If you have questions, orientation is an excellent opportunity to ask questions and meet other potential foster families.

Administrative paperwork can take some time to complete, but having everything prepared will ensure it goes smoothly. It will help the process move along if you gather financial documents ahead of time. These include tax filings and paystubs, which you will need to show as proof of financial stability.

Foster parents in Ohio must also attend 24 hours of pre-service foster parent training. This training teaches foster families about the trauma experienced by all foster children. It also covers how to provide general and specialized care to foster children.


Ratings and Reviews

Average user rating

3.0 / 5
Rating breakdown
5
4
3
2
1
If you have an experience with this agency, please write a review.
Carmale Montgomery
Jun 05, 2021

This agency seems to be a great company. For the kids. Once you join them. It's nothing close to being great. The higher ups are so close that everyone is making excuses for each other rather than trying to fix the problems. Now I see why the turn over rate is so high.

Rating: 1

arnetta davis
Apr 12, 2019

YAS has been a great resource for foster parents, youth and families as well as staff. They have been very supportive, open, honest and engaged. They provide a large amount of services to support foster parents and the youth/families being served.

Rating: 5